Lubricator for multistage compressors



Aug. 25, 1925.

M. LA QUAY LUBRIGATOR FOR .MULTISTAGE COMPRESSORS Filed Feb.'21, 1925lea, nuaarcaru-- i 1 MAYLON LA QUAY, 0F BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATOR FOR MULTISTAGE GOMIPBESSORS.

Application filed February 21, 1925. Serial No. 10,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAYLON LA QUAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators forMultistage Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lubricators for multistagecompressors.

This application is a continuation in part of my application for LettersPatent filed July 7, 1924, Serial No. 724,733.

My improved lubricator is especially designed by me for use withcompressors of air brake apparatus and I have illustrated myimprovements as embodied on such an apparatus. My improvements are,however, readily adapted for multistage compressors designed for otheruses.

The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an improved lubricator for compressors by means ofwhich the lubricant is uniformly fed to the cylinders in desiredquantities.

Second, to provide an improved lubricator which is not likely to becomeinoperative or clogged in use.

Third, to provide an improved lubricator which does not flood when idle.

Objects relating to details and economies of construction and operationwill definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. I is a side elevation of a compressor embodying the features of myinvention, the parts being shown mainly in conventional form.

Fig. II is a vertical section on a line corrg/s ponding to line 2-2 ofFigs. I, III and I Fig. III is a plan view of the lubricant receptaclewith the cap removed.

Fig. IV is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 4t4 of Fig.II.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1, 1 represent the steam cylinders, 2 the highpressure pump cylinder and 3 the low pressure pump cylinder. The detailsof the valves and connections for the cylinders are not illustrated asthey form no part of my invention.

My improved lubricator is supported by a bracket l adapted to beattached by one or more of the head screws 5 of one of the steamcylinders. The lubricant receptacle 6 is secured to this bracket by thescrews 7 The lubricant chamber 8 of the receptacle is provided with aclosure plug 9 through which the receptacle is filled.

Formed in the walls of th receptacle are passages 10 and 11, the passage10 being connected to the low pressure cylinder by means of the pipe 12which is, in effect, a part of the passage, and the passage 11 beingconnected to the high pressure cylinder by the pipe 13 which is ineffect a part of the passage 11.

The passage 10 communicates with the chamber 8 through the restrictedpassage 14 and is provided with a check valve 15 seating towards thecylinder, that is, acting to prevent return to the cylinder through thepassage 10. The passage 11 communicates with the top of the lubricantchamber through the restricted connection 16 in the top of thereceptacle and the coacting passage 17 in the cap or closure. Thepassage 16 opens to a segmental groove 18 in the top of the receptaclethereby adapting the structure to such variations as occur in startingthe threads or variations in cutting the threads.

The passage 11 is provided with an upwardly seating valve 19 in advanceof the restrictions, this upwardly seating valve preventing the air fromthe high pressure cylinder entering the lubricant chamber on the workstroke.

In the embodiment illustrated the valve seat 19 is formed in a plug 20threaded tacle.

cylinder 21 having an enlargement 2:2 in the low pressure end thereof.

The ends of the cylinder are open to the passages 10 and 11. Thecylinder is provided with an inlet connection to the lubricant chamberwhich is, in the embodiment illustrated, a pipe 23 which extendsupwardly into the receptacle and into the closure 19 which is chamberedto receive the same. The pipe 23 is provided with inlet port-s 24adjacent the top of the receptacle.

The plunger 25 is provided with a head portion 26 coacting with theenlarges portion 22 of the cylinder. This head portion has a port 27therein disposed so that it is closed when the head portion of theplunger is at the inner end of the enlar ement ot the cylinder as shownin Fig. 11.

The outstroke of the plunger is limited by the adjustable stop 28 and byadjusting this stop the feed may be regulated to a considerable degree.This stop has a restricted opening 29 therein so that there is arestriction between the feed cylinder and the low compression cylinder.1

A restricting member 30 having a small opening 31 therein is disposedbetween the feed cylinder and the high pressure cylinder of thecompressor.

With the parts thus arranged, on the upstroke of the low pressurecylinder piston the plunger 25 is seated closing the port 2? and the airis forced past the check valve 15 of the passage 10 into the lubricantrcep- On the upstroke of the high pressure cylinder piston the air iskept from passing to the lubricant receptacle by the check valve 19.

The lubricant is heated to a considerable temperature in practice andthis, with the action of the air forced in as stated from the lowpressure cylinder, atomizes the lubrie-ant and forces it through theports 2-1: to the plunger cylinder 21 and also a portion of it is forcedthrough the restricted passage 16 past the valve 19, which is thenrising on the non-circular support as shovm in Fig. IV, and through therestriction 31 to the high pressure cylinder, a cer ain quantity oflubricant being also drawn on the down-stroke of the high pressurecylinder piston from the cylinder 21.

On the rip-stroke of the high pressure cylinder the plunger 25 is'iiOFCGil toward the right and lubricant forced by the air from the highpressure cylinder into the low pressure cylinder.

My improved lubricator is found highly efiicient resulting in effectivelubrication without an xcess of lubrication.

I have illustrated and described my inn pro-vements in a simple andpractical embodiment and as especially designed for compressors used inbrake systems. I have not attempted to illustrate or show certainembodiments or adaptations which l. contemplate as I believe thisdisclosure will enable the application of my improvements as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a compressor comprising high and low pressurecylinders, of a lubricant receptacle with high and low pressure cylinderpassages open i'ig to the top oi the receptacle, the low pressurecylinder passage being provided with a return check valve and the highpressure cylinder passage being provided with an out-stroke check *alve,there being restrictions in the passages between said valves and thelubricant receptacle, a feed cylinder communicating at its ends to saidpassages, said tt'ecd cylinder being enlarged at the low pressure endthereof, there being restrictions in said passages between said feedcylinder and said con'ipressncylinders, an inlet conduit for said feedcylinder opening to said lubricant receptacle at the top thereof, and aplunger in said feed cylinder having a head reacting with the enlargedportion of the cylinder, said head having a port therethrough disposedso that it is closed when the head oi the plunger is at the inner end ofthe enlarged portion of the cylinder.

2. T he combination with a compressor comprising high and low pressurecylinders, of a lubricant receptacle with high and low pressure cylinderpassages, a feed cylinder communicating at its ends to said passage,said feet cylinder being enlarged at the low pressure end thereof, aninlet conduit for said teed cylincer opening to said lubricantreceptacle at the top thereof, and a plunger in said teed cylinderhaving a head coactii with the enlarged portion of the cylinder, saidhead having a port therethrough disposed so that it is closed when thehead of the plunger is at the inner end or" the enlarged portion of thecylinder.

3. The combination with a compressor comprising high and low pressurecylinders of a lubricant receptacle with high and low pressure cylinderpassages opening to the top of the receptacle, the low pressure cylinderpassage being provided with a return check valve, the l ressure cylinderpassage being provided witl an out-stroke check valve, there beingrestrictions in the passages between said valves and the lubricantreceptacle, afeed cylinder having an inlet connection to said receptacleand communicating at its ends to said passages, i. rid feed cylinderbeing enlar ed at the low pressure end thereof, there being restrictionsin said passages between said feed cylinder and said compressorcylinders, and a plunger in said feed cylinder having a head coactingwith the enlarged portion of the cylinder.

4. The combination with a compressor comprising high and low pressurecylinders, of a lubricant receptacle with high and low pressure cylinderpassages connected to said high and low pressure cylinders and openingto the top of said lubricant chamber, a feed cylinder having an inletconnection to said receptacle and communicating at its ends to saidpassages, said feed cylinder being enlarged at the low pressure endthereof, and a plunger in said feed cylinder having a head coacting withthe enlarged portion of the cylinder, said head having a porttherethrough disposed so that it is closed when the head of the plungeris at the inner end of the enlarged portion of the cylinder.

5. The combination with a compressor comprising high and low pressurecylinders, of a lubricant receptacle with high and low pressure cylinderpassages connected to said high and low pressure cylinders and openingto the top of the lubricant chamber and also through the top wallthereof, a closure cap for said lubricant chamber adapted also to coverthe outer ends of said passages, a feed cylinder having an inletconnection to said receptacle and communicating at its ends to saidpassages, said feed cylinder being enlarged at the low pressure endthereof, and a plunger in said cylinder having a head coacting with theenlarged portion of the cylinder.

6. A lubricator for multistage compressors comprising a lubricantreceptacle with high and low pressure cylinder passages communicatingwith the top of said receptacle, the low pressure passage having areturn check valve therein, a feed cylinder having a feed connection tosaid receptacle and opening at its ends to said passages and having anenlargement at the low pressure end thereof, a plunger having a headportion coacting with the enlarged portion of said cylinder, and havinga port therethrough disposed so that it is closed when the head is atthe inner end of said enlarged portion of said cylinder, and anadjustable stop at the head end of said plunger.

7. A lubricator for multistage compressors comprising a lubricantreceptacle with high and low pressure cylinder passages communicatingwith the top of said receptacle, a feed cylinder having a feed connection to said receptacle and opening at its .ends to said passages andhaving an enlargement at the low pressure end thereof, a plunger havinga head portion coacting with the enlarged portion of said cylinder, andan adjustable stop for said plunger.

8. A lubricator for multistage compressors comprising a lubricantreceptacle with high and low pressure cylinder passages communicatingwith the top of said receptacle, a feed cylinder having a feed connection to said receptacle and opening at its ends to said passages andhaving an enlargement at the low pressure end thereof, and a plungerhaving a head portion coacting with the enlarged portion of saidcylinder, and having a port therethrough disposed so that it is closedwhen the head is at the inner end of said enlarged portion of saidcylinder.

9. The combination with a compressor comprising high and low pressurecylinders, of a lubricant receptacle with high and low pressure cylinderpassages connected to said high and low pressure cylinders and openingto the top of said lubricant receptacle, said low pressure passagehaving a return check valve, a feed cylinder having a feed connection tosaid receptacle and communicating at its ends to said passages, and aplunger in said cylinder.

10. A lubricator for multistage compressors comprising a lubricantreceptacle with high and low pressure cylinder passages communicatingwith the top of said receptacle, the low pressure passage having areturn check valve therein, a cylinder having an inlet opening to saidreceptacle and opening at its ends to said passages and having anenlargement at the low pressure passage end thereof, and a plungerhaving a head portion coacting with the enlarged portion of saidcylinder and having a port therethrough disposed so that it is closedwhen the head is at the inner end of said enlarged portion of saidcylinder.

11. A lubricator for multistage compressors comprising a lubricantreceptacle with high and low pressure cylinder passages communicatingwith the top of said receptacle, a cylinder having an inlet opening tosaid receptacle and opening at its ends to said passages and having anenlargement at the low pressure passage end thereof, and a plungerhaving a head portion coacting with the enlarged portion of saidcylinder and having a, port therethrough disposed so that it is closedwhen the head is at the inner end of said enlarged portion of saidcylinder.

12. A lubricator for multistage compressors comprising a lubricantreceptacle with high and low pressure cylinder passages communicatingwith the top of said receptacle, the low pressure passage having areturn check valve therein, a cylinder having an inlet connection tosaid receptacle, said cylinder being open at its ends to said passagesand having an enlargement at the low pressure passage end thereof, and aplunger having a head portion coacting with the enlarged portion of saidcylinder.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set in hand.

y MAYLON LA QUAY.

